'Chaos' on roads: Freezing conditions turn Kitsap into an ice rink
With a winter storm warning still in effect Friday, Kitsap agencies were warning drivers to stay off ice-slicked roads.
Washington State Ferries on Friday morning canceled service on the Bremerton-Seattle route, saying that the ice conditions affected the ability of crews and staff to get to vessels and terminals. The route returned to service with a 10 a.m. sailing from Seattle to Bremerton. The Bainbridge-Seattle and Kingston-Edmonds routes were limited to one-boat schedules.
The Poulsbo Fire Department posted on Facebook on Friday morning that crews were having difficulty navigating roads "with big, heavy, chained up four wheel drive medic units."
"County sand trucks have been advised by their supervisors to hold off on going out because of extremely hazardous road conditions," the department said in its post, which it later edited.
Kitsap County spokesperson Doug Bear said that there was a brief period of time on Friday morning when plows remained stationary. Since then, plows have been back in operation, he confirmed later Friday.
In a press release issued by Kitsap County, county engineer Joe Rutan said that travel is extremely challenging as a result of accumulated ice.
"We are urging residents to avoid driving if possible," Rutan said. "The roads are ice coated and getting around closures adds to the challenge. If you don't need to be on the roads, please stay safe at home."
The following county roads are closed, according to Kitsap County's website:
NORTH KITSAP
NE Gunderson Rd
NE Totten - The entire length
Sherman Hill Rd NW
Pioneer Way NW
Viking Avenue NW between Sherman Hill to Scandia
CENTRAL KITSAP
Anderson Hill Road from Seabeck Highway to Willamette Meridian
Newberry Hill Road from Provost to Dickey
SOUTH KITSAP
Pine Road NE between Sidney and Bethel
Feigley Road W
Retsil Road E between Ridgeway and Beach Drive
SE North Street between Long Lake SE and Stevens Ct SE
E Main St
E Hilldale Road
E Lidstrom Hill Road
The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office is reporting "chaos" on local roads, saying that it is responding to multiple reports of accidents and "dozens of vehicles into ditches."
"Conditions are bad enough that we cannot get roads cleared of collisions in some areas," it said in a Facebook post.
Kitsap Transit canceled most of its service for Friday morning, with the exception of ACCESS service needed to make "life-sustaining trips." Those needing ACCESS should call 1-800-422-2877 to see if service is possible.
The National Weather Service on Friday morning updated its winter storm warning for the area, saying that conditions that are bringing freezing rain to Puget Sound and beyond could last until 7 p.m. on Friday and warned of slippery road conditions.
Update... steady precip has moved into the Cascades for all but the San Juans and Whatcom County - leaving sct showers. Temps for most areas remain below freezing - so any ice on sfcs isn't going anywhere & add'l precip could be impactful till we warm later today. #WAWX pic.twitter.com/iwJbBzTHnz
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) December 23, 2022
More:Blast of ice will make travel treacherous in Kitsap on Friday
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard announced it would curtail operations for its day-time and swing-shift workers on Friday, and for Naval Base Kitsap, all non-essential employees were advised not to report to work. On Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, the Trigger Avenue gate is closed. On Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, the Naval Avenue gate is closed.
The Kitsap County Courthouse and county offices are closed on Friday.
Waste Management is not collecting trash on residential routes, according to a bulletin from the county, and the Olympic View Transfer station as well as recycling and garbage facilities in Silverdale, Hansville and Olalla are also closed.
St. Michael Medical Center outpatient clinics are closed on Friday, according to Susan Callahan, a spokesperson for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Those include imaging, therapy and wound clinics, and the cancer center at the hospital and the Bremerton IV Infusion (Optimum) Clinic on Lebo Boulevard. Elective surgery cases are also canceled.
"Patients will be contacted in the coming days to reschedule appointments or procedures," Callahan said.
The hospital and emergency department remain fully open.
Just now on Miller Bay Road at Indianola Road: What looks wet is actually ice. Conditions may get worse before they get better later today. Please stay home to keep yourselves -- and first responders -- safe. pic.twitter.com/2rxQlB4E6M
— N. Kitsap Fire (@NKFandR) December 23, 2022
Kitsapsun.com will continue to update this story.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: 'Chaos' on roads: Freezing conditions turn Kitsap into an ice rink
